20 Slideshows

I lived here from 1961 to 1964. In 1984 it became my home for the second time. The house was bought by my mother in 1953 for 500 quid. At the start of the work I only occupy the left hand first floor room. In 1977 I acquired the other first floor room and in 1978 made one studio of the two rooms. In 1980 I also took over the ground floor room and the garage which became a litho studio for the production of Dante's Inferno. The house number that appears in 1977 (together with a muted jubilee display) is put on by me with stencils bought in Cincinnati earlier that year. These are replaced in 1986, symptomatically, by my own handlettered numbers.

The tree is pruned by various cowboys but rapidly reasserts itself and blocks the light in the studio. It receives an almost mortal blow in 1992 when behind it a more elegant Ginkgo is planted above my mother's ashes.

Since this is my principal place of work I grew to feel that here I might be allowed to influence the photograph without betraying the general hands-off policy that governs 20 Sites as a whole. Thus, after 1976, the figures have been 'plants' and their passing an enactment. The first figure appears by accident in 1973 itself. Charles Kent, the basement tenant, is seen attending to his van. The theme is taken up in 1976 when Margaret, one half of Arbor Films is the protagonist. It is only, however, in 1980 that I have systematically asked people to pass by for the necessary four or five times, which demonstrates how gradually the fixed elements of the project have evolved and may still evolve.

In 1981 Pella Erskine Tulloch in 1982 Andy Gizauskas, in 1983 my son Leo guests, as they say on American chat shows, 1988 features Sylvia Sumira. My brand new old Karman Ghia was stolen some days later, to be replaced by a Karman Ghia type 3, here being passed by Camilla Dixon and Maurice Watson in 1989. Though the prize automobile highlight has to be the vintage 1971 yellow Morris Minor van belonging to Alice Wood. Guest appearances continue, the majority of them being a family or helpers. The latter appear, most frequently, Alice Wood or Lucy Shortis being at hand at the given moment and Andy Gizauskas on call. Charles Kent makes a last comeback in 1998. Fiona Maddocks becomes a frequent player, once with my step children, Arabella and Flora, in 1996. Leo, is seen again in 2005. Friends and neighbours Patrick Wildgust, John Walters and Ann and Trevor Dannatt make several appearances. Jake Auerbach, celebrated maker of documentary films, (including 20 sites n years) appears in 2014. Lucy and Ben Drury appear in masks during the 2020 Covid lockdown. In 2022 the Queen's Platinum Jubilee is celebrated with a street party.